INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (IJAHSS)
TEEN PREGNANCY: UNITED STATES VS. EUROPE
E-ISSN: 2579-048X
P-ISSN: 6774-5001
DOI: https://iigdpublishers.com/article/52
The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and teen birth among comparable countries in Europe. Teen pregnancy presents many risks due to teenage girls not being physically or psychologically mature enough to reproduce. While contributing to high school drop-out rates, the biology of teen pregnancy, risky behavior, nutrition, socioeconomic status and levels of prenatal care are all risk factors to both the mother and the infant. Comprehensive sexuality education is a way to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Adolescent sexual health outcomes are more positive in the European countries of France, Germany, and the Netherlands than in the United States due to societal openness and comfort in dealing with sexuality along with pragmatic governmental policies. Such policies create better sexual health outcomes for French, German, and Dutch teens when compared to U.S. teens.
Beth D. Williams-Breault
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